Football
UCA’s Brown picks up regional FCS coaching recognition
Bears’ coach one of five regional top coaches in AFCA voting ahead of season-ending game in Texas on Saturday
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas coach Nathan Brown got a little good news coming to the end of a disappointing season.
Brown picked up the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) coach of the year honor for Region 3. A national coach of the year for FCS will be selected from the regional coaches of the year.
🏆Congratulations to the AFCA FCS Regional Coaches Of The Year
1️⃣ @CoachBCosh | @StonyBrookFB
2️⃣ @coachberry77 | @SCState_Fb
3️⃣ @NathanBrownUCA | @UCA_Football
4️⃣ @CoachTimNDSU | @NDSUfootball
5️⃣ @VintagePlough | @UCDfootball pic.twitter.com/MvgNYFqZms— AFCA (@WeAreAFCA) November 19, 2024
Brown, 43-34, is in his seventh season with the Bears with a game left Saturday against Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas. The game is set to kick off at 2 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.
This year started off strong with UCA reaching a 6-2 record and a Top 10 ranking in the polls. Then injuries started and kept piling up every week. They are on a three-game losing streak headed to the final game of the year.
Other top regional coaches of the year include Billy Cosh of Stony Brook (Division 1), Chennis Berry, South Carolina State (Region 2), Tim Polasek, North Dakota State (Region 4) and Tim Plough, UC-Davis (Region 5).
Todd Knight at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark., was the Region 4 coach of the year at the Division II level.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | @ Arkansas State | L, 34-31 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Lindenwood | W, 34-13 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | Austin Peay | W, 45-17 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff | W, 56-17 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Lamar | W, 34-14 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ Abilene Christian | L, 41-34 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs West Georgia | W, 34-33 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs North Alabama | W, 24-19 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Utah Tech | L, 34-21 |
| Sat, Nov 9 |  | @ Eastern Kentucky | L, 31-24 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Southern Utah | L, 38-31 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @Tarleton State | 2:00 PM |
